Bernard Lee (January 10 1908 – January 16 1981) was a British actor, best known for his role as M in the first eleven James Bond films.
Born in London, he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. During the 1930s he acted mostly on stage, but after WWII developed a successful film career, including The Third Man (1949), Beat the Devil (1953), The Battle of the River Plate (1956) and Whistle Down the Wind (1961).
Lee also starred in the 1976 television show Beauty and the Beast with George C. Scott. A year later he starred in the television show A Christmas Carol as the Ghost of Christmas Present.
James Bond films
In the Bond films, Lee's character M is Bond's boss who sends him out on assignments. Lee, was succeeded by Robert Brown who supposedly played the same character. Judi Dench would later take over the role of M during the Pierce Brosnan Bond-era.
In 1981, Lee passed away after a battle with cancer. Out of respect, the role of M did not feature in the 1981 James Bond film For Your Eyes Only.
Bernard Lee starred in eleven James Bond films.
